From: Denver Post
by Mike Eaves
Mike Eaves (left), coach of defending NCAA champion Wisconsin, thinks the University of Denver has a shot at a third national title in four years.
Although DU scored just three goals in two games against the Badgers last weekend, Eaves expects the Pioneers "will be there at the end of the year."
"They beat us three out of four times (including two games at Madison in November), although I thought we played very well against them and I thought that we played well enough this weekend to possibly win two games," Eaves said after last weekend's two-game split at Magness Arena. "They're a quality team. They've got quality goaltenders. They have speed up front."
Denver has produced only 10 goals in its past four games, but Eaves knows from his team last season that brilliant goaltending and opportunistic scoring can carry a team far in the NCAA Tournament. And any coach would like to have the Pioneers' goaltending duo of senior Glenn Fisher and junior Peter Mannino for the national tournament.
Mannino, who has allowed just one goal in his past three games, has a 1.99 goals- against average and .932 save percentage. Fisher's numbers are 2.13 and .931.
"It's still all about who's going to be hitting their stride at the end of the year, be healthy and have their goaltender hot," Eaves said. "But I think they're a quality team and will be there at the end of the year."
DU improved to No. 7 on Monday in both national polls. The Pioneers are tied for seventh with Boston College in the USA Today/American Magazine poll, which had them tied for 10th last week.
Spreading blame
DU isn't pinning its recent offensive woes only on its forwards. Junior Ryan Dingle, who leads the WCHA with 17 goals, said the problem stems from the length of the ice.
"We're not making the passes, from our first breakout pass, to getting into their zone and maintaining possession," Dingle said. "And right now we're a mediocre team on the power play, which takes five guys."
Captain Adrian Veideman said the backliners have not been dealing well with the opponent's forecheck. "We're just not concentrating enough in getting that first pass on the tape," he said.
Corbin's return
DU's only injured player, senior co-captain J.D. Corbin, said he isn't planning to return until after the Jan. 19-20 series at No. 1 Minnesota.
Corbin, who has missed the past 20 games with a broken leg and injured ankle that required surgery, began skating Monday.
Footnotes
St. Cloud State, riding a 14-game unbeaten streak, and Colorado College could send DU from second to fourth in the WCHA this weekend. The Pioneers, who host Niagara for a nonconference series beginning Friday, are a point in front of the Huskies and two ahead of the Tigers.
1 comment:
Eaves is sandbagging his old teammate Gwoz.
He is right about goaltending in the playoffs. The hot goalie is the one who carries his team in one and dones.
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